NHS children's mental health services (CAMHS) are under sustained pressure, with many families reporting waits of months between referral and meaningful support, and some referrals not accepted at all. Meanwhile, private child therapy typically costs £60–£120 per session, and a growing number of insurers include children's mental health support on family policies.
- ✓Many families wait months for CAMHS support; some referrals aren't accepted at all.
- ✓Private child therapy typically costs £60–£120 per session.
- ✓Several insurers now include children's mental health support on family policies.
The pressure on CAMHS, honestly stated
Children's mental health referrals have risen sharply over the past decade, and NHS child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have not been able to grow at the same pace. The result, widely documented by NHS bodies and children's charities, is a system under strain: many families report waiting months between referral and meaningful treatment, thresholds for acceptance have tightened in many areas, and some referrals are closed without treatment and signposted elsewhere.
Exact figures vary by area and by how waits are measured — children's mental health data is patchier than the adult RTT statistics, and a single 'national CAMHS wait' doesn't really exist. But the direction is not in dispute: demand up, capacity stretched, and long waits at the exact age when early support matters most. For context, the adult mental health RTT median stands at 9.3 weeks (May 2026) — and CAMHS waits in many areas are believed to be considerably longer.
What families do while they wait
If your child is on a CAMHS list — or has been referred and not yet accepted — you don't have to wait empty-handed. Families typically combine several of these:
- School support. Ask about the school's mental health lead, counselling provision or a mental health support team — many schools now have one.
- Free national services. Young Minds (parent helpline), Kooth (online counselling for young people in many areas), Childline and Shout offer support without a referral.
- Your GP. Worth going back to if things worsen — deterioration can change the urgency of a referral. Always seek urgent help via 111 or 999 if a child is at risk.
- Charity and community counselling. Local services often see young people faster than CAMHS, sometimes free or low-cost.
- Private therapy. The fastest route to regular one-to-one support, if the budget allows.
The private route: what it costs
Private child and adolescent therapy — typically with a counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist experienced with young people — usually costs £60–£120 per session, with psychologists at the upper end and initial assessments sometimes charged separately. A typical course of 6–12 weekly sessions therefore runs to roughly £360–£1,440. Availability is generally good: first appointments within days or a couple of weeks are common, including online options many teenagers actually prefer. Look for practitioners registered with recognised bodies (BACP, UKCP or HCPC) who state experience with children and adolescents specifically.
| Route | Typical cost | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| NHS CAMHS | Free | Often months; varies widely by area |
| Charity / school counselling | Free–low cost | Days to weeks |
| Private therapist (child/adolescent) | £60–£120/session | Days to ~2 weeks |
Cover for the whole family
Where insurance fits for children
Children can usually be added to a parent's health insurance policy at relatively low cost — a family of four averages around £167/month in 2026 — and several insurers now include mental health support for children on family policies: helplines, counselling sessions and, on fuller plans, outpatient psychiatric cover. Cover varies a lot between insurers, mental health is sometimes an optional extra, and pre-existing conditions — including a mental health condition your child is already referred for — generally won't be covered.
If this is a factor for your family, our guides to children's health insurance and mental health cover explain what's typically included and what to check before buying. None of this is a substitute for urgent NHS care when a child is in crisis — that path is always there, and always free.
Frequently asked questions
How long are CAMHS waiting times for children's mental health support?
There's no single national figure — children's mental health data is patchier than adult RTT statistics — but many families report waiting months between referral and meaningful CAMHS treatment, and waits vary widely by area. Some referrals are not accepted and are signposted to other services instead.
What can families do while waiting for CAMHS?
Use support that doesn't need a referral: school counselling and mental health leads, Young Minds' parent helpline, Kooth's online counselling, and local charity services. Go back to your GP if things worsen, and use 111 or 999 urgent routes if a child is at risk. Some families also add private therapy while they wait.
How much does private therapy for a child cost?
Typically £60–£120 per session with a child and adolescent counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist — psychologists sit at the upper end. A 6–12 session course runs roughly £360–£1,440, and first appointments are usually available within days to a couple of weeks, including online.
Does health insurance cover children's mental health?
Increasingly, yes — several insurers include children's mental health support (helplines, counselling, and outpatient psychiatric cover on fuller plans) when children are on a family policy. But cover varies a lot, mental health can be an optional extra, and a condition your child is already referred for counts as pre-existing and generally won't be covered.